A congested level crossing near Merinda Park train station has been removed with drivers set to enjoy a smoother journey over a new Thompsons Road overpass.
Premier Daniel Andrews today joined Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan at Thompsons Road on Sunday 24 June to celebrate the opening of the first of two, three-lane bridges being built as part of the State Government’s $207 million upgrade.
Mr Donnellan said with more than 26,000 vehicles travelling on Thompsons Road every day – “this project is boosting capacity, upgrading intersections and helping Victorians get where they need to go safer and sooner.”
Drivers will now be diverted onto the new northern road bridge on Thompsons Road, permanently separating road and rail and allowing for the removal of the old level crossing equipment below.
Nearly 145,000 hours of work, 1,700 cubic metres of concrete and tens of thousands of tonnes of quarry materials have helped build the 3,200-tonne bridge over the rail line and the 60,000-tonne supporting wall.
Work will begin on the southern bridge and new traffic lanes on the south side of Thompsons Road.
The State Government will also duplicate sections of Thompsons Road and upgrade 11 intersections, including new traffic lights to boost safety at the notorious Western Port Highway intersection.
Existing traffic light intersections will be upgraded at Wheelers Park Drive, William Thwaites Boulevard, Marriott Boulevard and Lyndhurst Boulevard.
As part of the State Government’s Suburban Roads Upgrade, the roundabouts at the intersections of Thompsons and Dandenong-Frankston Road and Thompsons and Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road will also be replaced with traffic lights.
Premier Daniel Andrews said there were now 25 dangerous and congested level crossings gone for good.
“We promised we would remove 50 dangerous and congested level crossings and we’re half-way there,” he said.
Member for Cranbourne Jude Perera said “Local drivers were sick and tired of waiting at this dangerous and congested level crossing – that’s why we wasted no time getting rid of it.”
The Thompsons Road Upgrade is expected to be completed in mid-2019.
